Rath checks in: Karl Johan Hotel, Oslo

For a city trip, I prefer city hotels from which I can walk directly to the center. On my current trip to Oslo, I choose the four-star Hotel Karl Johan, which is located right on Karl Johans gate in the city center. Despite its proximity to the center, the hotel is very quiet and its location is enhanced by its proximity: after only 500 meters I reach the Royal Castle. The prices are also royally high: a night in a standard room costs 605 euros.

The Karl Johan Hotel shines in the wonderful Art Nouveau style. In the center of the lobby I discover a historic-looking staircase, the steps of which creak under my feet. Unfortunately, the spaciousness of the lobby, which characterizes my first impression, does not continue. My room is higher than it is wide.

Another drawback is the foam mattress. This bends when I want to make a bed in the middle. Did I dine too much last night? Hardly likely! The blankets are not of the best quality. Despite the Nordic chill at night, I lie awake sweating. I would have wished that they had also invested in the sleeping arrangements in the rooms during the renovation.

Exhausted, I go to the breakfast buffet and am very pleasantly surprised. This start to the day is excellent. From fresh berries to freshly squeezed fruit juices to a large selection of salmon, breakfast saves my day.

I look generously over the plastic plants. The budget was probably no longer enough for real flowers. But the morning sun shines through the glass roof onto my muesli plate.

Although the service dampens my newly awakened euphoria. I don’t get any tips for my stay in Oslo or how to plan my day. Service is not particularly important. The check-in the day before was relatively sober, albeit quickly. Special requests – such as milk in my room for the coffee from the existing coffee machine – are not personally fulfilled. I can order my milk and then pick it up myself. The same applies to my printed documents that I need for my business meetings. At least that saves me the workout.

I’m probably still spoiled from my last stay in Oslo. If you want to stay in an excellent hotel then I recommend The Thief.

Oslo: the green city?

“No Oslo, no Tesla.” The visionary Elon Musk is said to have coined this saying himself. Oslo is the city and Norway the country with the most electric vehicles on the roads. 90 percent are probably. When it comes to sustainability, the friendly Northmen are ahead of us. The city of Oslo is refreshingly quiet for a metropolis of 1.5 million people. I consistently encounter friendly faces and helpful locals.

Norwegians are proud of their country and their sustainability. I see that more critically. After all, they invest the profits they get from oil and natural gas exploration into renewable energy. Evil tongues could claim that this is greenwashing. Sometimes a “green” turns into an “olive green”.

Did you know that Oslo has long been the marketplace for the surrounding farming villages? Two castles shaped the medieval townscape. There were nine churches within the city walls as well as Hallvard’s Cathedral. Merchants and artisans lived here. Even today, the likeable city is the economic center of Norway and definitely worth a visit.

Conclusion: More cordiality please!

At first glance, the Hotel Karl Johan looks very young and freshly renovated. However, they forgot to upgrade the service as well. I didn’t even meet the director of the house during the two days of my stay. In terms of proximity, I see a lot of room for improvement here.

Insider tips:

Tyuvholmen Peninsula: The “Thieves Island” invites you to stroll.

Bar tip: Rooftop bar on the Hotel The Thief.

Museum tip: Contemporary art at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art.

Must see: Kvadraturen, the historical center of Oslo.

Fjord tip: The fjord and the harbor promenade are only a few minutes away from the historic centre.

Rath’s Voyage Rating (current rating in bold):

1. Explicit Travel Warning
2. Better than under the bridge
3. So-so, not oh, là, là
4. Complaining at a high level
5. If only it were always like this
6. Great cinema

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of a travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a professional globetrotter. He travels to all the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account. Rath is the brain behind the ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany”, whose partners include the Handelsblatt.